congratulate
gb/kəŋɡɹˈæt͡ʃəlˌeɪt/ us/kəŋɡɹˈæt͡ʃəlˌeɪt/
B1
English
~ 7500
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
express joy at someone's success
to say you are happy about something good that happened to someone and wish them well
Usage pattern:
to congratulate [someone] on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often say *"congratulate you for"* instead of the more natural *"congratulate you on"*. Use the preposition *on* when naming the reason: *"congratulate you on your promotion"*, not *"for your promotion"*. Another confusion is between *congratulate* (what you say to the person) and *celebrate* (what you do about the event): you congratulate a person, but you celebrate an event.
Synonyms
commend (More formal; focuses on praising someone's actions rather than on sharing their happiness.)
Antonyms
commiserate (Means to express sympathy for someone's misfortune, the opposite emotional situation from congratulating someone for good news.)
Collocations
congratulate someone on
|formally congratulate
|heartily congratulate
|personally congratulate
|call to congratulate
|join me in congratulating
Themes
social
|emotions
|daily_life
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We all called to congratulate her on passing the bar exam.
- I'd like to congratulate you on your excellent presentation this morning.
- The mayor congratulated the team on their victory in the championship.
- Friends and family gathered to congratulate them on their wedding.
- I must congratulate you on the success of your new book.
Learner examples
- I want to congratulate you on your new job.
- Everyone at work congratulated him on the big sale.
- They sent a card to congratulate her on the baby.
- The teacher congratulated the students on their hard work.
- Please congratulate your brother on his graduation for me.
Verb
B2
state
2
feel pleased with oneself
to feel happy and proud about something good you did yourself
Usage pattern:
to congratulate yourself on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I congratulate me"* instead of the correct reflexive form *"I congratulate myself"*. Use *myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves* when the person doing the action and receiving it are the same: *"He congratulated himself on his success"*.
Synonyms
pat yourself on the back (An informal idiom that adds a slightly humorous or critical tone of self-satisfaction.)
Antonyms
beat yourself up (Means to blame or criticize yourself strongly, the opposite of feeling pleased with yourself.)
Collocations
congratulate yourself
|quietly congratulate yourself
|privately congratulate yourself
|congratulate yourself on a job well done
Themes
emotions
|personal_attitude
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You can really congratulate yourself on how smoothly the event went.
- She quietly congratulated herself on choosing the right moment to speak.
- He congratulated himself on having saved enough money before prices went up.
- They had every reason to congratulate themselves on their decision.
- I was congratulating myself on my timing when the train doors suddenly closed.
Learner examples
- You can congratulate yourself on finishing this project.
- She congratulated herself on her improved English.
- He congratulated himself on making a good choice.
- They congratulated themselves on coming early.
- I congratulated myself on not giving up.
Grammar
Dictionary form
congratulate
IPA
GB/kəŋɡɹˈæt͡ʃəlˌeɪt/
US/kəŋɡɹˈæt͡ʃəlˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
con - grat - u - late (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (grat)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: congratulate
- 3rd Person Singular: congratulates
- Present Participle: congratulating
- Past: congratulated
Word family
Forms
congratulates
verb
congratulating
verb
congratulated
verb
Core family
congratulation
noun B2
Advanced or less common
congratulatory
adjective
Expressions
allow me to congratulate you
1/əlˈaʊ mˈi tə kəŋɡɹˈæt͡ʃəlˌeɪt jˈu/
fixed phrase
formal
formal way to congratulate
a polite and formal way to start congratulating someone
Examples
- Allow me to congratulate you on this well-deserved honor.
- First, allow me to congratulate you on your outstanding performance.
congratulate someone on something
1/kəŋɡɹˈæt͡ʃəlˌeɪt sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɔn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
tell someone you are pleased
to say kind words to a person about a good thing that happened to them, naming the reason after "on"
Examples
- I'd like to congratulate you on your excellent results.
- We all congratulated them on the birth of their daughter.
congratulate yourself
1/kəŋɡɹˈæt͡ʃəlˌeɪt jʊɹsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
be pleased with your own success
to feel happy and proud about something good you did or decided
Examples
- You can congratulate yourself for finishing the marathon.
- She congratulated herself on choosing such a reliable team.
congratulations
1/kəŋɡɹˌæt͡ʃəlˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
used to say well done
used to tell someone you are happy about their success, good news, or special event
Examples
- Congratulations! You really deserved that promotion.
- When she told us they were engaged, everyone shouted, "Congratulations!"
congratulations are in order
1/kəŋɡɹˌæt͡ʃəlˈeɪʃənz ˈɑɹ ˈɪn ˈɔɹdɚ/
idiom
it is right to congratulate
Used to say that it is the right time to congratulate someone because of good news.
Examples
- I hear you’ve been accepted to medical school—congratulations are in order!
- Given the company’s record profits this year, I think congratulations are in order for the whole staff.
congratulations are in order
2/kəŋɡɹˌæt͡ʃəlˈeɪʃənz ˈɑɹ ˈɪn ˈɔɹdɚ/
idiom
it is time to congratulate
used to say that someone has done something good or had good news, so people should congratulate them
Examples
- I hear you’ve been promoted, so I think congratulations are in order.
- Well, congratulations are in order—you’ve completed the project ahead of schedule.
congratulations on
1/kəŋɡɹˌæt͡ʃəlˈeɪʃənz ˈɔn/
fixed phrase
say congratulations for something
used before naming the reason for the congratulations, such as a job, exam, wedding, or baby
Examples
- Congratulations on your new home!
- Congratulations on passing your driving test at the first attempt.
congratulations on
2/kəŋɡɹˌæt͡ʃəlˈeɪʃənz ˈɔn/
fixed phrase
saying congratulations about something
Used to say you are happy for someone because of a specific good thing, like a new job or a baby.
Examples
- Congratulations on your new job!
- Congratulations on passing your driving test.
- Congratulations on the birth of your daughter.